Written by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: Leslie Beemer plays with an infant during a Selah’s Red Tent Joyful Journeys class. Photo courtesy of Ms. Beemer
Of the more than 4,400 births in Genesee County in 2021, over half were from single moms. So, a Flint woman has recently restored a historic and previously condemned property and transformed it into a place where new moms can receive rest, help, and education for up to five days from a doula at no charge. Additionally, day classes are offered at the same location.
Leslie Beemer, who used to exclusively serve very wealthy married mothers who could afford to pay for doula services and their infants, wanted to provide her service to those who cannot typically afford it. She has been volunteering to work with single moms in Flint and Detroit for eight years and worked for Luke Project 52, at 5131 W. Bristol Road. Beemer recently opened Selah’s Red Tent at 807 E. Street, in Flint.
A doula focused on birth is also known as a birth companion, nonclinical birth worker, birth coach or post-birth supporter, and provides continuous care before, during, or after in the form of information, advocacy, physical support and emotional support.
“This is what I learned about every mom; they all need the same thing and want the same thing,” Beemer said. “It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how big your house is, they all want happy, healthy babies and families. When I became a doula, I knew everyone deserved this. At the time, only the uber wealthy could afford to pay an hourly rate the doula would receive.
“So, it’s really exciting to see that Medicaid now-at the same time I started this-has started paying doulas for their birth and postpartum care. So, the State of Michigan now pays doulas to come in and serve the underserved.
“But, most people don’t know what it is. It’s something that happened way back in the Bible. Doulas were there. They were “doulos.” It means actually slave. You’re a slave to the mom. You serve her-because we know when she’s served and supported, then she’s cared for and she can pay for her baby and her family.”
The property Beemer is using had been vacant for 12 years when Beemer purchased it from the Land Bank through their VIP (Very Interesting Property) program.
As executive director and co-founder of, as well as a doula for Selah’s Red Tent, Beemer, pointed out one in every seven women experience postpartum depression. She is hoping to reduce that number through the support she and other doulas can offer.
“Jesus is the one who put this desire into my heart six years ago,” stated Beemer. “All my life since I’ve been a little girl I was drawn to women with newborns. My first experience with newborns and babies was in the church nursery at the age of 7, serving alongside my mom. Then I took a newborn babysitting job at 10 years old.”
Beemer has noticed mothers in Flint have been “super hungry for information,” and she said they tend to return to learn more.
“They’re teachable as well,” Beemer added.
Birth education to increase positive birth outcomes, information about spontaneous births, teaching women about their bodies, postpartum extended care after leaving the hospital for 3-5 days, healthy eating, healthy feeding, eating and sleeping routines for moms and babies and lactation support are all offered.
The Joyful Journey class is offered to new mothers weekly after their 3-5 day stay is done and/or new mothers can attend the birth education class.
Beemer said the women in the class are “super connected.”
“It’s super neat to see. They’re growing this relationship with one another! I can only have six at a time for the daytime program. So, eventually we’ll be open five days a week for six moms per week, up to a year. It’s kind of exciting!”
Beemer noted the women are able to do a load of laundry each time they come for class and that they also get food from Every Nation Church.
She suggests women come for services at about 30 weeks into their pregnancy.
“i want Flint moms to know God is faithful, and He loves them. I really want them to know that, and they do feel that when they’re here.”
To learn more, visit www.selahsredtent.org
